A consultant and lecturer in communication and media studies, Dr. Kojo Ackaah-Kwarteng has attributed the perennial bickering and wrangling in Ghanaian political parties to the inability of politicians to exercise what he termed as “Emotional Intelligence” in managing conflicts within their parties.
Most internal party misunderstandings continue to gain currency in the media through which some politicians outdo and demean their compatriots, a situation that is making more Ghanaians loose confidence in the various politicians and their parties.
The current wrangling in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been blamed on the media by a former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, who accuses the media of exaggerating the protracted conflict in the NPP. The party’s presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo has thus warned all party members to desist from discussing internal matters in the media landscape, fearing, such behavior will affect his party’s chances in the run-up to the 2016 general elections.
Media consultant, Kojo Ackaah-Kwarteng told this reporter on Asankrangwa based Royal FM that rancor, bitterness and wrangling will continue to dominate Ghanaian politics “if politicians failed to let their heads rule over their hearts” in the resolution and management of conflicts and the expression of differing opinions on party matters. He disagreed with those blaming the media for the growing wrangling in the NPP.
Commenting on whether the media should be blamed for the wrangling in political parties, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu described as unfortunate the situation where aggrieved politicians and party members run to the media to complain instead of using Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms available within their parties. He blamed the media for not constituting experts as radio panelists who would discuss political, economic and socio-developmental issues dispassionately in order to help Ghanaians to make informed electoral decisions. The Suame legislator is calling for the elevation of media standards by constituting educational minds as radio panelists and commentators on discussion programs.
When reached for his opinion, pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch, Ben Ephson pointed out that the “NPP must stop setting the fire for smoke to stop coming out’. He has therefore urged the media to stand out to the truth and serve mother Ghana through news reportarge.
